Evacuations Partly Lifted in Deadly Los Angeles Fire

October 15, 2008

Fire officials have partially lifted evacuation orders at the site of a deadly San Fernando Valley wildfire.

Residents of Kagel Canyon in the northeastern valley are being allowed back home if they can show identification. However, Lopez Canyon — where 38 mobile homes and one other home burned — is still closed.

The evacuation covered about 3,000 homes. Los Angeles County fire Inspector Paul Hartwell says he doesn’t know how many remain under mandatory evacuation.

The Marek fire is blamed for one death. It began Monday and has burned about 4,800 acres. However, gusty Santa Ana winds that were driving the flames have subsided and the blaze is 70 percent contained.

But the winds are blowing erratically just 10 miles away where a second fire in Porter Ranch is uncontained. That fire doubled in size overnight to nearly 9,900 acres.